Spat



Patented May 27, 1941 UNITE STATES Par-Ear GFFICE my invention relates to thatarticleoh wearing apparel or footwear, familiarlyknown as-a spat, and more particularly to tl iat-form of spat in which elasticm'eans are associated with the fastening devices,- which may-beef the snap type. I 1

One object-of my inventionis to provide-a spat of this type with guiding means for the elastic tape connections associated'with fastening means.

A further object ofmy invention is-to' provide scallops or recesses in part of the edge of theoverlapping portion of the spat adjacent-the fastening devices to serveas guiding means for the elastic connections of such fastening de- 7 vices; oneform of my improved spat having these-recesses formed at the-edge of thebody portion of the spat, while another form hasthe recesses at the edge of a backing strip of-suitable material, which may be webbingj and which underlies and is secured to'the overlapping part of the body portion ofthe spat.

These and other features of my invention are more fully set forth hereinafter; reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawing, in which: Fig. l'isa side elevation-of oneform of'spat embodyingthe features forming the subjectof my invention.

' Fig. 1 -is a fragmentary edge view, somewhat enlarged, illustrating a detail of-myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of part ofthe overlapping portion of the spat; the elastic-tape connections and the fastening devices carried by the same being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III,

Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the inner-surface of the overlap-ping part of the body portion of the spat; illustrating a modified con struction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a detail of the construction or; arrangement shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig; dis a sectional view on the line VIVI; Fig. 5; i a

Spats of the type to which my invention relatesare known but, asheretofore made, they have not presented a neat and sightly appearance in that the overlapping body portion. at the side exhibits a series of substantially horizontal rows of stitches which are, employed in the formation of pocket guides forelastic tapes to the ends of whichpart of the fastening devices-'aresecured.

Inasmuch as one end: of each of these elastic the tapes is secured to the backing strip disposed on the inside of theoverlapping portion of-the spat as well as to thefabric of the latter, it

isunnecessary to provide horizontal stitching to form these pockets, although it is desirable tohave guiding means at the points'of emergence of the elastic tape connections at the edge ofthe overlapping portion of the front part of the spat.

As is well known, spats are-usually made of felt, hence while they present raw edges, such edges are of a character which do not require anything in the nature of a binding or edge covering.

The spat forming the subject of my invention is of the-snap fastener-type; thatis to say, snap fasteners serve to secure it in proper position around the ankle of the wearer.

Fig. 1 of the drawing representsa side elevation of a spat of conventional shape which, in the present instance, is provided with snap-fastenersfour in number-each consisting of a post element carried by what may be termed the heel portion of the spat, and a socket element carried by what may be termed the front portion of the spat, which overlaps the heel portion at the side.

The body of the spat is indicated generally at I; the front portion covering the instep being indicated at l and the heel portion being indicated at l The front portion isin overlapping relation with respect to the heelv por tion at the side of the spat, and the usual strap to underlie the foot, indicated at 2 and which may be elastic, is provided.

The snap fasteners may comprise post elements of usual type, indicated at 3, and socket or cap members also; of usual type, indicated at 4. The post elements are anchored at points adjacent to the marginal; edge, of the heel por tion l being applied in the usual manner, while thesocket or capmembers are fastened to the ends of elastic tapes, indicated at 5, which are carried by theoverlapping portion is.

On the underside of the overlapping part. of the front portion i of the spat, a strip of suitablematerial, which may be webbing, indicated at his applied; such material being secured to such overlapping part. Before thisunderlying strip is finally applied to the spat, or secured in place, the elastic tapest carrying the socket or cap members 4 of the snap fastener devices may be secured to the same in spaced relation bya line ofstitching indicated at a; the underlying stript being subsequently sewn or secured to the inner surface of the overlapping portion I of the spat by lines of stitching indicated at b and 0.

Prior to the operation of applying the underlying strip 6 to the overlapping part of the front portion of the spat, the edge of the latter may be prepared by notching or scalloping the same at regularly spaced intervals, as indicated at I, and the size of these notches, which have by preference an arcuate contour, may be such asto accommodate a portion of the cap or socket member 4 of the snap fasteners, as indicated. This notching is fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; the cap or socket member of the upper fastening device being omitted in Fig. 1, for clearness of illustration.

Upon reference to Figs. la and 2, it will be noted that, by reason of this notching of the edge portion of the overlapping part of the felt body constituting the spat, the line of stitching at the marginal edge of such overlapping part and which serves to hold the marginal edge of such underlying strip 6 thereto (the stitching indicated at b), will pass through the felt and the strip 6 in those portions of such plies lying between the notches or recesses, While at such notches or recesses, the stitching will pass through the underlying strip 6 only, with the result that openings for passage of the elastic tapes are provided between the plies made up of the overlapping portion of the spat and the underlying strip 6. This construction provides the desired guiding means for the elastic tapes 5 and at the same time leaves the overlapping side part of the front portion l of the spat unmarred by rows of horizontal stitches heretofore employed in providing pockets for the elastic tapes.

In lieu of notching the felt body of the spat, however, substantially the same effect may be produced by notching the edge of the underlying strip of material indicated at 6, in the manner indicated at l in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Such construction or arrangement permits retention of a straight, continuous edge to the overlapping outer part of the front portion l of the spat, so that even though it becomes necessary to depend upon the elastic tapes for proper adjustment of the spat to the foot and ankle, the overlapping side portion of the spat will present a clean-cut, continuous edge. The parts forming the construction or arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are disposed and secured together in the same manner as those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, et seq., the only difference being that instead of notching the outer body portion of the spat at its point of overlap, an underlying strip of material secured to such overlapping portion is notched.

In applying the elastic bands 5 to the spat, the first operation is to secure the lining B to an edge of the spat body by a line of stitches, indicated at b, which pass through the lining and the body of the spat. In the form of structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the notches are formed in the edge of the body ply, the stitches pass through the lining only at the notched portion of the body ply. In the form of structure illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the stitches pass through the body of the spat only, at the notched portions of the lining. After this operation, the elastic bands, each with a fastening element applied to one end of the same, are inserted in the openings provided by the notched portions of the ply and then, after being secured to the backing strip by a line of-stitches a, such elastic bands and the lining are sewn down to the body of the spat by one or more rows of stitches, as indicated at c.

While I have described the elements of the snap fasteners as being applied in a specific manner; that is to say, the posts being carried by the heel portion of the spat and the cap or socket members by the front overlapping portion through the tape connection, it will be understood that these relations may be reversed without departing from my invention; other modifications that may be necessary being employed in such change.

It will also be understood that while specific embodiments of my invention have been illustrated, modifications may be made therein within the spirit thereof, all of which is deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a leg covering of the character described having a portion including a plurality of plies, fastening means including complementary engaging elements for securing said covering in place, an elastic tape to which one element of the fastening means is secured; said tape being mounted between said plies of material and one of the latter having a notched edge, and means for securing the plies together adjacent said notch; such securing means being omitted in one ply at the notch whereby an opening is provided between the plies for the passage of the elastic tape.

2. In a leg covering of the character described having overlapping portions one of which has a plurality of plies, fastening means including a plurality of complementary engaging elements carried by the overlapping portions for securing said covering in place, a series of elastic tapes to which one element of each of the fastening means is secured; said tapes being mounted between said plies of material and one of the latter having a notched edge, and means for securing the plies together adjacent said notches; such securing means being omitted in one ply at the notched portions whereby openings are provided between the plies for the passage of the elastic tapes.

3. As an article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edges, and a complementary fastening device for securing said overlapping edges; one-of said edges comprising a plurality'of plies of material and one of said plies being notched adjacent said fastening device.

4. As an article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edges, and a plurality of complementary fastening devices for securing said overlapping edges; one of said edges comprising a plurality of piles of material and one of said plies being notched adjacent the respective fastening devices.

5. As an article of manufacture, a leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edge parts; one of said edge parts comprising a plurality of plies secured together by rows of stitching and the marginal edge of one of said plies being notched, a complementary fastening device for securing said overlapping parts together, and an elastic tape disposed between said plies and carrying one element of said fastening device; one row of said stitching connecting the plies across the notched part whereby an opening will be provided between the plies opposite said notched part for the passage of the tape.

6. As an article of manufacture, a leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edge parts; one of said edge parts comprising a plurality of plies secured together by rows of stitching and the marginal edge of one of said plies being notched, a series of complementary fastening devices for securing said overlapping parts together, and a series of elastic tapes each carrying one element of said fastening devices; one row of said stitching connecting the plies across the notched part whereby openings will be provided between the plies opposite said notched part for the passage of the tapes.

'7. In a leg covering of the type described, the combination of an elastic tape, a two-part fastening device for the covering; one element of said fastening device being carried by said elastic tape, means for securing said elastic tape to the body of the leg covering including an underlying strip of material between which and said body the said tape is placed, and means for fastening such underlying strip and body together at an edge portion thereof; one of said plies of material being notched at such edge whereby the securing means may enter a single ply and provide an opening between the plies at such notched portion.

8. In a leg covering of the type described, the combination of a plurality of elastic tapes, twopart fastening devices for the covering; one element of each fastening device being carried by an elastic tape, means for securing said elastic tapes to the body of the leg covering including an underlying strip of material between which and said body the tape is placed, and means for fastening such underlying strip and body together at an edge portion thereof; one of said plies of material being notched at such edge whereby the securing means may enter a single ply and provide openings between the plies at such notched portions.

9. In a leg covering of the type described, the combination of an elastic tape, a two-part fastening device for the covering; one element of said fastening device being carried by said elastic tape and the other by an adjacent part of the leg covering; that part of the leg covering carrying the tape having a plurality of plies and one of said plies being notched at its marginal edge, a row of stitches for securing said plies together; said stitches crossing the notched portion whereby connection between the plios is omitted to provide an opening for the passage of the elastic tape, and means for securing said elastic tape to the leg covering.

10. In a leg covering of the type described, the combination of a plurality of elastic tapes, twopart fastening devices for the covering; one element of each fastening device being carried by the elastic tapes and the other by an adjacent part of the leg covering; that part of the leg covering carrying the tapes having a plurality of plies and one of said plies being notched at its marginal edge, a row of stitches for securing said plies together; said stitches crossing the notched portions whereby connection between the plies is omitted to provide openings for the passage of the elastic tapes, and means for securing said elastic tapes to the leg covering.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with portions thereof in overlapping relation; the outer overlapped portion comprising a plurality of plies, complementary snap fasteners for securing the overlapping portions of the spat; one of the plies at the edge of the overlapping portion being notched adjacent said fasteners, and elastic tapes carrying an element of each fastener and extensible at such notched portion.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with portions in overlapping relation, a section of material underiying the overlapping portion and secured thereto by rows of stitching; the marginal edge of one of said plies being notched and one row of said stitching crossing the notched edge and providing a series of openings between said plies opposite the notches, snap fasteners for securing the spat in place, and elastic tapes carrying one element of said snap fasteners and extensible through said openings.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edges, a complementary fastening device for securing said overlapping edges; one of said edges comprising a plurality of plies of material and one of said plies being notched at its edge adjacent to said fastening device for the passage of one element of the same.

14. As a new article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with overlapping edges, a plurality of complementary fastening devices for securing said overlapping edges; one of said edges comprising a plurality of plies of material and one of said plies being notched at its edge adjacent to the respective fastening devices for the passage of one element of each of the same.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a spat or similar leg covering having a body portion in the form of a split tube with portions in overlapping relation; the outer overlapped portion comprising a plurality of plies, complementary snap fasteners for securing together the overlapped portions of the spat; one of the plies of the overlapped portion being notched at its edge adjacent to said fastening and, elastic tapes carrying an element of each fastener anchored at one end and having their free ends extensible through such notched portions.

ISRAEL SHARP. 

